Exhibition and reception are free and open to the public. Funded in part by the van Otterloo Family Foundation.

Express Yourself Exhibition: SOUL 2017 features set designs and artwork from their performance at the Boch Center Wang Theater on May 25, 2107. This year’s set design featured an exciting array of artwork, including portraits inspired by the 1970’s Soul movement, painted spirit animals, and large scale three-dimensional totem poles. Express Yourself challenges myths surrounding young people with mental illness and at-risk youth, allowing these individuals to explore art as a path toward a healthy sense of identity and feeling valued for their creativity. Learn more about Express Yourself, Inc. at exyo.org. Endicott College is proud to have two senior Art Therapy students Caroline Casey, and Emily Surabian as Interns this semester with Co-Executive Directors Paula Conrad and Stan Strickland, and the entire Express Yourself, Inc. Creative Team.

In 1988, Paula Conrad – educator, choreographer, and dancer – founded Express Yourself to bring creative arts programs to youth in residential and outpatient treatment facilities. Stan Strickland – educator and award-winning musician and performer – joined her as co-executive director in 1995, and together they expanded Express Yourself into a network of professionals, affecting the lives of young people in over 50 Massachusetts cities and towns. From the beginning, nationally recognized guest artists joined with Express Yourself to collaborate, create, and perform with program youth at our annual year-end celebration. Artists have included Blue Man Group, STOMP, Boston Pops Conductor Keith Lockhart, Broadway dancers, and many others. Over the past 25 years, they’ve developed a team of creative professionals who care deeply about our community. “We know that art can heal and change lives — we see it happen every day. Our team is committed to being a positive, consistent presence in the lives of the youth we serve.” - Paula Conrad

Please join us on Thursday, October 5, 5:00 – 7:00 p.m., as we celebrate the youth and their artwork, the creative team, and Barbara Keiter who has worked as the Creative Director at Express Yourself for the past 18 years. This lively reception will feature the music of Combo Sabroso with Stan Strickland and the Express Yourself Dancers.